Book Reviews: The Bone Clocks, Thrown, Into the Go-Slow, Gone Away World, World War Z

Although the holidays may be over, it’s still winter. And winter means SAD. Some people turn to alcohol to deal with their depression, I turn to books. I’ve done individual reviews of books I enjoyed, here are abridged reviews of books that were just okay.

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (DNF)

I tried reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell this week but couldn’t finish it. I saw this book on a list from a trusted reading resource and put it on hold at the library. I didn’t look up what it was about or anything. I never do. I didn’t know who David Mitchell was until I saw the cover which mentioned he wrote Cloud Atlas. I know nothing about that story other than they turned it into a movie.

Anyway, I loved the first part of The Bone Clocks. The first 100 pages focus on character Holly Sykes. A sixteen year-old who runs away from home. You learn that she had “daymares” as a child, was cured, then she begins having them again. These supernatural daymares are what kept me reading, as I wanted to figure out exactly what was going on. Holly Sykes’ character seemed spot on for an angsty teenager.

Then the story moves onto another character, a college student named Hugo Lamb and this is when I started skimming. The story is very non-linear, which is fine. But I guess I need the plot to be a tiny bit more straightforward than it was. The three sections of the book jumped arbitrarily 10 years in the future each time. Then Mitchell interjects dialogue and scenes to provide an explanation of what happened in the past.

He pulls it off, it is good writing. I just didn’t like it for storytelling. At the half-way point, about 300 pages, I gave up and called this book a DNF (did not finish). I didn’t see where it was going and grew tired of waiting for the book to be interesting again. Maybe I’m missing something in his writing?

Into the Go-Slow by Bridgett Davis

This was an interesting fictional story, though partly based on the author’s life, about a 21 year-old girl who is processing her older sister’s death four years later. Her sister died in Nigeria, so the main character decides to travel there, on a whim, to learn more about her sister’s death. The death was due to a car accident but the sister is suspicious of this.

This is sort of a coming of age story, and the main character does grow up in the end. But, really, 21 year-olds are dumb and make dumb decisions and say dumb things. And this type of dumb behavior is really annoying to read over and over and over. It’s realistic, don’t get me wrong. Just, frustrating.

As an example, while traveling in Nigeria alone, she is almost raped at the place where she is staying. Yet, the very next day, she follows a different strange man into an unfamiliar home under the assumption a woman she knows lives there. I actually believe this is realistic behavior. It is just really frustrating to read about.

Also the main character is obsessed with her dead sister. I understand this and am sure it is realistic but… is still uncomfortable to read about. She wears her sister’s clothes, braids her hair like her sister, listens to her records, etc. It’s understandable but uncomfortable.

What did make up for the odd story was the writing. I was captivated to continue reading the entire time, even when I grew frustrated or annoyed. I can’t recommend this one but it was subject matter I don’t typically read so in that way it was interesting.

Thrown by Kerry Howley

This is a literary non-fiction story about MMA Fighters out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Howley is age 28-30 when writing this; part of the time a full-time academic. The writing is very academic, almost thesis sounding at some points. Definitely a bit too literal and over-the-top sounding. Yet, also enjoyable. Mainly because we keep waiting for a moment to happen. Why? Because Howley is waiting for this moment. Some moment, I’m not exactly sure what. Some sort of philosophy of catharsis maybe?

It never happens. But we do learn a lot about the fighters and the scene itself. I found the parts about weighing in and starving themselves rather interesting. The abuse their bodies take outside of the ring. Howley never passes judgement. But she does talk about herself a bit more than she should. At times she would think her role in these fighters’ lives was a bit bigger than it actually was. But there’s enough of a balance that it’s not too terrible.

This is a short read so I do recommend it but it’s not a casual read, even though the subject matter is.

Into the Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway (DNF)

I typically enjoy dystopian novels and really thought I would enjoy this one based on the summary. Unfortunately, I didn’t and after 200 pages, I gave up. The introduction to this story is wonderful. You get introduced to a set of very interesting characters and learn about a very interesting problem they need to solve in this very interesting world. I was hooked.

Then suddenly you’re transported back several decades to when the main character was 5 years-old and you learn about their best friend. At this point, it becomes a character study. The two friends grow up together, meet other characters, go to ninja fighting school, have a teacher, go to college, join the military, etc etc etc. Blah blah blah. The entire time I was trying to figure out what all this had to do with the very interesting beginning. And I’m sure it was related, somehow.

I wanted to fight through this part and get to the very interesting part again, but I just couldn’t. The writing style is, as a friend described it, “silly.” I thought of it as Catch-22-esque. This is definitely satire, which I usually enjoy, but in a very confusing type of way. Scenes are long-winded and nothing is clear.

I am aware that the end does tie up everything, with a twist ending even, so it works out. But there is no way I could get that far. If you like these types of books, you’ll love this. But I just couldn’t make it through.

World War Z (Audiobooks)

One of the Book Challenges I’m attempting this year is to read an audiobook. I don’t read audiobooks! Never listened to one! So I looked up recommended audiobooks. Not just books put on tape, but actual good recordings that worked well on audio. World War Z came highly recommended; though I had little interest in reading the actual book. I know what it’s about but am over zombies. Though I did watch the movies because I love dumb action movies.

Surprisingly, the audiobook was fantastic! Since the book is mainly first-person encounters told through interviews, it lended itself very well to an audiobook. There was a star-studded casting for each character. And I enjoyed hearing different voices for each character. It felt more compelling than if I had just read the book. Sure, some of the accents made me feel uncomfortable. But for the most part, everyone did a great job.

This is short – a total of 6 hours – about two days for me. I’m not sure how I feel about audiobooks in general. I kind of liked that I couldn’t see the spoiler at the bottom of the page and I didn’t know what was coming up next. But it also was more difficult for me to listen. I couldn’t just ‘read’ a page or two while standing in line like I can with an actual book. And there were definitely times that I just wasn’t paying attention and had to rewind.

I may consider trying out another audiobook if there is are any recommendations as it was a very interesting experience. I really did enjoy this version and story much more than I thought I would.

2 Replies to “Book Reviews: The Bone Clocks, Thrown, Into the Go-Slow, Gone Away World, World War Z”

I like your reviews! I read a Nick Harkaway book, Angelmaker. It had some great plot ideas, a lot of jokes and silliness, some torture scenes that were beyond my tolerance, and a weird wrap-up. I think he is creative but I wouldn’t read another.

I had never been able to listen to audio books because I just zone out. But I have now listened to a couple while using exercise machines, and that was just right to keep me focused. Sometime I will borrow World War Z!

I read reviews & spoilers of the Harkaway book to make sure I wasn’t missing anything and it sounded exactly how you described the other one. Jokes, silliness, and war. Apparently it does come together in the end but I just couldn’t really care about any of the characters. It’s an interesting way to write, though I also wouldn’t attempt another of his. I guess that’s just his style.